Manually or mechanically operated piano.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

' T. DANQUARD. MANUALLY 0R MEOHANIGALLY OPERATED PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.9, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

'lllllllllllllll UNITED STATES Patented. August 2, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

THOMAS DANQUARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO KOHLER & CAMPBELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A FIRM.

MANUALLY OR MECHANICALLY OPERATED PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,601, dated August 2, 1904.

Q Application filed December 9, 1903. Serial No. 184,48. (N0 model.)

To a whom, it Netty concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS DANQUARD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the borough of Bronx, city of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hanually and Mechanically Operative Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more especially to that class of mechanical musical instruments known as pneumatic self-playing instruments or those in which the piano-action proper and the pneumatic playing mechanism are combined in one self-contained instrument or structure the working parts of which are supported within an ordinary piano-case and may be operated manually by fingering the keyboard and may also be played mechanically by operation of the pneumatics upon parts moving the hammers of the piano-action. This class of self-contained instruments is clearly distinguishable from apparatus known as keyboard self-playing attachments, which embody a system of levers and pneumatics operating them arranged in an independent casing adapted for adjustment to the front of an ordinary piano to permit playing of it by action of the pneuniatically-operated levers upon the piano-keyboard.

In keyboard self-playing attachments snapping sounds arising from the flexible walls of the pneumatics which actuate the piano-keyoperating levers are scarcely noticeable and probably because the pneumatics and their lever-moving connections are contained within an independent sound-deadening case; but in pneumatic self-playing pianos operative both manually and mechanically the near approach of the pneumatics to the soundingboard and vibrating strings, due to the necessarily compact arrangement of all the parts within a more or less resonant case, increases or intensifies the snapping sounds arising from the flexible walls of the action-operating pneumatics to an annoying degree, so as to mar the musical harmony during mechanical playing, and this occurs whether the pneumatics be arranged above or below the keyboard of the instrument.

One important object of this invention is to arrange the mechanical playing pneumatics and their connections in a self-playing piano so as always to avoid the above-named objectionable snapping sounds from the collapsing pneumatics irrespective of the means employed to secure tone modulation. This is accomplished by interposing specially arranged elastic strikers between the pneumatics and the piano-action to operate the hammers by or from the collapsing pneumatics.

A further object of the invention is to facilitate inspection and repair of the pneumatics and their action operating devices and stops and also of the tracker and music-sheet rolls by specially grouping or combining these parts and making them readily removable from the piano-casing. this object being attained while using either elastic or inelastic pivoted vertically-movable strikers between the pneumatics and the piano-action.

The invention will first be described and then will be particularly defined in claims hereinafter set forth.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a central vertical transverse section of upper portions of a piano embodying my invention and taken on the liner/0 m in Fig. 2, which is a front partly-sectional view with parts of the piano-case removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the preferred elastic strikers of the pneumatic playing mechanism. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the outer end of this striker, and Fig. 5 is a side view of a striker of modified form.

The piano-keys 1 are arranged above the key-table 2 and act upon rods 3, wippens 4, and hammers 5 to cause the hammers to strike the strings 6, vibrating near the usual sounding-board 7, for playing the piano manually. The hammer rest-rail 8 is movable toward the strings by a vertical rod 9 to obtain softer tones, and the dampers 10 may be lifted from the strings by a vertical rod 11 to assure louder tones. All the above parts are shown arranged within the upper portion of an upright case 12. The action parts 4 5 are represented diagrammatically in Fig. 2 of the drawings, from which the piano-strings and stringframe and sounding-board re omitted.

The music-sheet 13 passes from a deliveryroll 14 over a tracker 15 to a take-up roll 16, all arranged in a supporting-frame 17, which is shown sustained within the case 12 and in front of the piano-action by a chest 18, containing primary pneumatic-valves 19. This valve-chest 18 connects by tubes 20 with the tracker 15, and connects also by tubes 21 with a lower chest 22, containing secondary valves 23, controlling operation of the striking pneumatics 24, which when collapsed by airexhaust act by their abstracts 25 upon elastic strikers 26, which lift the action-wippens 4 to operate the hammers 5 for playing the piano mechanically or pneumatically. Any approved arrangement of valves and air-conduits may be interposed between the tracker and the pneumatics 24.

All the above-named parts 14 to 26 are preferably connected together and have support from the wind-chest 22, the opposite ends of which are fastened to or in the piano-case by screws 27 or other detachable connections, so as to allow said parts 14 to 26 to be together bodily lifted from the case when its upper front portion 28 is removed to facilitate adjustment or repair of any above-named portion of the mechanical playing mechanism. The case-front 28 has a suitable transparent plate, giving view of the traveling music-sheet 13 behind it, and this plate may be arranged as a slide and behind a sliding or hinged door, giving access to the music rolls or sheet for changing them, as may be desired. A shaft 29 and suitable gearing 30 and'chain belts 31 32 operate the music-sheet in well-known manner and preferably by a pneumatic motor. The motor-belt 32 will be unshipped when the parts 14 to 26 are to be removed.

The strikers interposed betweenthe pneumatics and the piano-action are important features of this invention and have for their main object always to elastically cushion the closing or collapse of the pneumatics 24, and thereby prevent annoying snapping sounds from their flexible side walls as the strikers operate the hammers 5 mechanically. The.

strikers also deliver upon the action a more.

or less yielding blow, simulating that arising from the touch of the human hand when the piano is played manually.

One appproved form of striker 26 is shown in Fig. l and to largenscale in'Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. It is preferable'to pivot the striker at one end and to couple its other elastic end directly to the pneumatic-abstract 25. As shown, the striker 26 is made of a wood block pivoted to a hanger 34, which is fastened by a screw or otherwise to a fixed support,

such as the secondary valve-chest 22. The striker 26 has a slot or saw-kerf 35, dividing it into upper and lower tongues 36 37. To

make a readily attachable and detachable connection of the striker to the abstract 25, the tongue'37 is slotted or saw-kerfed horizontally at 38 and is also slotted vertically at the end at 39. The slot 39 admits the end of the abstract 25, while the slot 38 receives a rawhide or hard-felt washer 40,which is screwed upon the abstract. tongue 37 then is tightened to hold or lock the abstract securely to the striker. This construction allows quick and easy attachment and detachment of the abstract to and from the striker, the screw 41 being loosened to freely admit the abstract and its'washer into the slots 38 39 prior to tightening the screw to complete the coupling of the parts. The upper more easily yielding tongue 36 of the striker preferably carries a suitable device,

such as an adjustable headed screw 42,which,

as herein shown, acts directly upon the wippen 4 to lift it and its jack to throw the corresponding hammer 5 against the piano-string 6.

An adjustable stop may be provided for each elastic striker 26 and may be a screw 43, working in a fixed rail or part 44, here shown as fastened to the upper primary valve-chest 18. Each screw 43 preferably has a felt-covered head 45, against which the corresponding striker stops. By adjusting the stops 43 the action-operating movements of each and all of the elastic strikers 26 may be nicely regulated to correspondingly regulate tone quality and note repetition when the piano is played mechanically. The stops being held to the valvechest 18, they are removable from the pianocase with the above-named parts 14 to 26 and without disturbing the keyboard or the means for manually operating the action from said keyboard.

In the modified elastic striker 46 (shown in 5 of the drawings) the lower tongue 37 is not slotted at 38 39; but the slot 35 is enlarged at the outer end to give room for screwing an inner nut 47 upon the threaded end of the abstract 25, and thus confine the tongue 37 between said nut 47 and an outside nut 48, previously run upon the abstract-thread. In all other respects this striker 46 and its headed screw 42 and stops 43 45 are arranged and ing of the striker-tongues cushions the closing movement of the pneumatics to avoid snapping or rattling sounds from their flexing side walls, and the yielding blows delivered by the strikers upon the action simulate or closely approach the elastic touch of the human fingers in manual playing.

The avoid- A screw 41 passed into the ance of these snapping unmusical sounds when the pneumatics are very quickly collapsed by the air-exhaust is an important feature in a self-contained manually and mechanically operative piano, as it assures undisturbed harmonious tones as the piano is played mechanically notwithstanding the compact arrangement of the pneumatics, the sounding-board, and the vibrating strings within the resonant piano-case. Contact of the elastic strikertongues 36 against the tone-regulating stops 43 also induces quick rebound of the strikers, which promotes very prompt opening of the pneumatics by atmospheric pressure, and thus assists'in obtaining correct note repetition during quick tempo of the music.

As shown, the pneumatic valve-chest 22 communicates, by a short vertical wind-trunk 50, a horizontal trunk 51, and a short vertical.

trunk 52, with a main wind-chest 53, arranged in the lower portion of the piano-case 12. To this chest 53 are usually fixed the main aircurrent inducing bellows and a reservoir, which equalizes the air-exhaust produced by operation of foot-pedals coupled to the main bellows. Small equalizing-bellows and the music-sheet motor will also be fixed to this wind-chest 53, which is to be fastened at the ends to the piano-case 12 or to supports therein in manner permitting convenient removal of it with all the connected wind-inducing apparatus of the instrument to facilitate repair or adjustment of any of these parts.

Pivoted vertically-swinging elastic strikers or spring-arms have before been used between piano-keys and pushers or abstracts operated by pneumatics for playing a piano mechanically; but in the prior construction the pushers are movable forward or backward to effect tone modulation by changing .the available elasticity of the strikers, and thus changing the force of the blows of the pneumatics upon the piano keys or action. These prior elastic strikers thus form necessary parts of the tone-modulating mechanism and cannot always cushion the collapse or effective actionoperating strokes of the pneumatics to pre vent annoying sounds from their flexing side walls and especially when the pushers act directly at or near the keys for producing loud tones.

It will be specially noticed that in the herein-described invention the elastic strikers operate independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushion the effective strokes of all the pneumatics to prevent annoying snapping sounds from their flexing walls during mechanical playing.

Various modifications of this invention may be made by the skilled mechanic within the scope of the appended claims as, for instance, it is not essential that the pneumatics 24 be located above the keyboard 1 to have them act upon elastic strikers, always preventing snapping sounds from the pneumatics while operating the piano-action, as said strikers, with or without the stops, may be arranged in various positions relatix ely to the pneumatics,

provided the strikers be interposed between the action and the pneumatics for operation substantially as and for the purposes above described; nor is it essential that the pneumatics have the bellows form shown in the drawings, as they may have a diaphragm operating an abstract or part moving an elastic striker to throw an action-hammer to a corresponding piano-string; nor is it necessary that the pneumatics and their wind-chest and the strikers or the pneumatics, wind-chest,

strikers, and striker-stops be together removable from the piano-case; but such removable construction is preferred in practice.

As regards relative arrangement of the pneumatics, their abstracts, the pivoted strikers, the action-wippens, and the adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and strikers it is immaterial whether the strikers be elastic or not. .ln other words, the strikers may be made without the slot 35, giving them elasticity.

The stops arranged above the pivoted strikers and in front of the piano-action always are easily accessible for adjustment to regulate the operation of the action by the pneumatics whether the strikers be elastic or be pivoted inelastic blocks or parts.

I claim as my invention 1. A manually andmechanically operative piano comprising an action, wind-inducing devices, pneumatics, and means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the action independentlyof tonemodulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics to prevent annoying sounds from their flexing walls.

2. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, a wind -chest, pneumatics communicating with said chest, and means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the action independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics; said wind-chest, pneumatics and action-operating means being together removable from the piano-case.

3. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, a windchest, pneumatics communicating with said. chest, and means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the action independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics; said wind-chest, pneumatics and action-operating means being arranged above the keyboard and being together removable from the piano-case.

4. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, wind-inducing de- 7 vices, pneumatics, means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the action independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and elastic strikers.

5. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, a wind-chest, pneumatics communicating with said chest, means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operatmg the actlon independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and elastic strikers; said windchest, pneumatics, action-operating means and stops being together removable from the pianocase. 1

6. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, a windchest,pneumatics communicating with said chest, means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the action inclependently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and elastic strikers; said wind-chest,

pneumatics, action-operating means and stops being arranged above the keyboard and being together removable from the piano-case.

7. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, wind-inducing de- 35- vices, pneumatics, a tracker and music-sheet rolls, air-conduits connecting the tracker anddependently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics; said W1nd-chest, pneumatics, tracker, music-sheet rolls, air-conduits,v

and action-operating means being together removable irom'the piano-case.

9. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action, a wind-chest, pneumatics communicating with said chest, a tracker and music-sheet rolls, air-conduits 4 connecting the tracker and pneumatics, and

means including elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the action independently ot tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics; said wind-ch est, pneumatics, tracker music-sheet rolls, air-conduits and action-operating means being arranged above the keyboard and being together removable from the piano-case.

10. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action including wippens,

wind-inducing devices, pneumatics, and means including elastic strikers operated by the pneumatics and acting directly upon said wippens and cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics.

11. A manually and mechanically operative piano comprising an action including wippens, wind-inducing devices, pneum atics, and means including elastic strikers operated by the pneumatics and acting directly upon said wippens and independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the action-operating stroke of the pneumatics.

12. A manually and mechanically operative piano having pneumatics, and elastic strikers actuated by the pneumatics and operating the piano-action independently of tone-modulating devices and always cushioning the actionoperating stroke of the pneumatics.

13. The combination with piano-action-opcrating pneumatics, of strikers each having a lengthwise slot forming two tongues, one of said tongues being longitudinally and vertically slotted, and abstracts coupled to the pneumatics and each having a washer entering the horizontal slot of the corresponding strikertongue while the abstract rests in its vertical slot.

14. The combination with piano-action-opcrating pneumatics, of strikers each havinga lengthwise slot forming two tongues, one of said tongues being longitudinally and vertically slotted, abstracts coupled to the pneumatics and each having a washer entering the horizontal slot of the corresponding strikertongue while the abstract rests in its vertical slot, and auxiliary means clamping said Washer between the two portions of said slotted tongue,thereby positively coupling the striker to the corresponding pneumatic.

15. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; pneumatics, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, and pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics.

16. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; pneumatics, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, andpivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pnuematics; said pneumatics, abstracts and strikers being adapted for removal together from the instrument-case.

17. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and pneumatics and ranging vertically between said pneumatics and the piano-action, and

pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics.

18. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, and pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics.

19. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, and pivoted-vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics; said wind-chest, pneumatics, abstracts and strikers being adapted for removal together from the instrumentcase.

20. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a Wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, abstracts ranging vertically between the pneumatics and the pianoaction and operated by the pneumatics, and pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics.

21. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; pneumatics, abstracts operated by the pneumatics,pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and strikers.

22. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; pneumatics, abstracts operated by the pneumatics,pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and strikers; said pneumatics, abstracts, strikers and stops being adapted for removal together from the instrument-case.

' 23. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and strikers.

24. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and strikers; 'said \vind-chest, pneumatics, abstracts, strikers and stops being adapted for-removal together from the instrument-case.

25. Amanually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the followingdevices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, a tracker and musicsheet rolls, air-conduits connecting the tracker and pneumatics, abstracts, and pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the pianoaction and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics.

26. A-manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively. connected to said chest, a tracker and musicsheet rolls, air-conduits connecting the tracker and pneumatics; abstracts, and pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the pianoaction and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics; said grouped devices being adapted for removal together from the instrument-case.

27. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, a tracker and musicsheet rolls, air-conduits connecting the tracker and pneumatics, abstracts operated by the pneumatics, pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneumatics and strikers. 1

28. A manually and mechanically operative piano having grouped above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action the following devices; a Wind-chest, pneumatics operatively connected to said chest, a tracker and musicsheet rolls,air-con :luits connecting the tracker and pneumatics, abstracts operated by the pneumatics,pivoted vertically-swinging strikers operating the piano-action and actuated by the abstracts and arranged above the level of the pneumatics, and adjustable stops regulating movement of the action by the pneunatics and strikers; said grouped devices be ing adapted for removal together from the instrument-case.

29. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with the action-wippens 4, of a tracker 15, rolls 14, 16 adapted to carry a music-sheet over the tracker, pneumatics 24 and their abstracts 25, air-conduits and valves connecting the tracker and pneumatics, and pivoted elastic strikers 26 operated by the abstracts 25 for playing the instrument mechanically.

30. In amechanical musical instrument, the combination with the action-wippens 4, of a tracker 15, rolls-14, 16 adapted to carry a music-sheet over the tracker, pneumatics 24 and their abstracts 25, air-conduits and valves con necting the tracker and pneumatics, and pivoted elastic strikers 26 operated by the abstracts 25 and having an adjustable device 42 acting on the wippens for playing the instrument mechanically.

31. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with the action-wippens 4, of a tracker 15, rolls 14, 16 adapted to carry a music-sheet over the tracker, pneumatics 24, airconduits and valves connecting the tracker and pneumatics,upwardly-extending abstracts 25 coupled to movable walls of the pneumatics, and pivoted strikers arranged above said pneumatics and adapted to be swung vertically by the abstracts against the wippens 4 for operating the piano-action; all of said parts being arranged above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action.

32. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with the action-wippens 4, of a tracker 15, rolls 14, 16 adapted to carry a music-sheet over the tracker, pneumatics 24, airconduits and valves connecting the tracker and pneumatics, upwardly-extending abstracts 25 coupled to movable walls of the pneumatics, pivoted strikers arranged above said pneumatics and adapted to be swung vertically by the abstracts against the wippens 4 for oper- 'ating the piano-action, and adjustable screwstops 43 regulating action of the strikers on the wippens for operating the piano-action; all of said parts being arranged above the keyboard and in front of the piano-action.

33. The elastic striker 26, comprising a block longitudinally slotted at 35 to form upper and lower tongues 36, 37; said tongue 37 being vertically and longitudinally slotted to receive the pneumatic-abstract and its washer.

34. The elastic striker 26, comprising a block longitudinally slotted at 35 to form upper and lower tongues 36, 37; said tongue 37 being vertically and longitudinally slotted to receive the pneumatic-abstract and its washer and provided with a clamping-screw 41 for retaining the abstract.

35. The elastic striker 26, comprising a block longitudinally slotted at 35 to form upper and lower tongues 36, 37; said tongue 36 having an adjustable striking-head 42, and the tongue 37 being vertically and longitudinally slotted to receive the pneumatic-abstract and its washer.

36. The elastic striker 26, comprising a block longitudinally slotted at 35 to form upper and lower tongues 36, 37; said tongue 36 having an adjustable striking-head 42, and the tongue 37 being vertically and longitudinally slotted to receive the pneumatic-abstract and its Washer and provided with a clampingscrew 41 for retaining the abstract.

37. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with the elastic striker 26 slotted at 35 to form an upper tongue 36 operating a corresponding portion of the piano-action, and a lower tongue 37 acted upon by a corresponding pneumatic, of an adjustable superposed screw-stop 43 regulating operation of the striker and action by the pneumatic.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature hereto, in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses, at the city of New York aforesaid, this 7th day of December, 1903.

THOMAS DANQUARD.

VVitnessies:

ALVIN K. GrooDwIN, J os. B. MENsING. 

